HSP 70 of Cryptococcus neoformans in Cryptococcosis.

1998 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

• Project/Area Number: 08670667
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Respiratory organ internal medicine
• Research Institution: Nagasaki University
• Principal Investigator: KOHNO Shigeru Nagasaki University School of Medicine Professor, 医学部, 教授 (80136647)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): UDONO Heiichiro Nagasaki University School of Medicine Assistant Professor, 医学部, 助教授 (50260659)
• Project Period (FY): 1996 – 1998
• Keywords: Anti-C.neoformans / HSP 70 antibody / Cryptococcus neoformans / Pulmonary cryptococcosis / ATPase / Capsular antigen

Research Abstract

Cryptococcus neoformans causes infection in individuals with defective T-cell function, such as AIDS, as well as without underlying disease. It has been suggested that humoral as well as cellular immunity might play an important role in the immune response to C.neoformans infection. We have recently shown, using immunoblotting, that the 70-kDa heat shock protein (HSP) family of C.neoformans was the major target molecule of the humoral response in murine pulmonary cryptococcosis. In this study, we also used immunoblotting to define the antibody responses in the sera of 24 patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis - 21 proven and 3 suspected diagnoses. Anti-C.neoforinans HSP 70 antibody was detected in 16 of 24 (66.7%) patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis. Fourteen of 17 (82.3%) patients with high antigen titers (*1 : 8) and 2 of 7 (28.6%) patients with low titers (*1 : 4), had detectable levels of anti-HSP 70 antibody. Sera from patients positive for anti-HSP 70 antibody showed high titers in the Eiken latex agglutination test for the detection of serum cryptococcal antigen. Our results indicate that the 70-kDa heat shock protein family from C.neoforinans appears to be a major target molecule of the humoral response, not only in murine pulmonary cryptococcosis, but also in human patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis.

Research Products

• [Publications] Kakeya H.et al.: "A 77 kilodalton Protein of Cryptococcus neoformans a meiuucv of heat shock protein 70 familly, iso major antigen detected in the sera of nice with poluoway cryptococcus" Infect Immun. 65. 1653-1658 (1997)
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
• [Publications] Kakeya H.et al.: "Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) as a major target of the antibody response in patients with pulmorary cryptococcosis" Clin Exp Emmunol. (印刷中). (1999)
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
• [Publications] Kakeya H, et al.: "A 77-kilodalton protein of Cryptococcus neoformans, a member of the heat shock protein 70 family, is a major antigen detected in the sera of mice with pulmonary cryptococcosis." Infect Immun. 65. 1653-1658 (1997)
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
• [Publications] Kakeya H, et al.: "Heat shock protein 70 (HSP 70) as a major target of the antibody response in patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis." Clin Exp Immunol. (in press). (1999)
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より